Shows / unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc
unSILOed is a series of interdisciplinary conversations that inspire new ways of thinking about our world. Our goal is to build a community of lifelong learners addicted to curiosity and the pursuit of insight about themselves and the world around them.*unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*
Episodes
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc511. The Impact of Digital Platforms on Work feat. Hatim Rahman
Why are external accountability and thoughtful integration of algorithms necessary now to ensure fairer labor dynamics across work environments? What’s the…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc510. Redefining Personhood in the Age of AI feat. James Boyle
With AI becoming more advanced every day, what are the ethical considerations of such emerging technologies? How can the way we treat animals and other species…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc509. Navigating Uncertainty and the Future of Economics feat. Amar Bhidé
What is the difference between risk and uncertainty? Why does mainstream economics often overlook uncertainty altogether?Amar Bhidé is a professor of Health…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc508. Examining Big Tech's Influence on Democracy feat. Marietje Schaake
What truly is the relationship between tech giants and government, especially with the recent change of administrations? How does democracy remain at the…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc507. Exploring the Dynamics of War feat. Richard Overy
What are the psychological and biological underpinnings of human violence and our collective propensity for war? How important really is leadership in wartime…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc506. From Human Logic to Machine Intelligence: Rethinking Decision-Making with Kartik Hosanagar
The world of decision-making is now dominated by algorithms and automation. But how much has the AI really changed? Haven’t, on some level, humans always…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc505. A Deep Dive into Signaling and Market Dynamics feat. Michael Spence
How is market signaling tied to economic growth, and what will the introduction of AI do to the wave of economic development in the US and abroad? Will other…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc504. The Science of Sovereignty and Balancing Happiness with Success feat. Emma Seppälä
How are happiness and success intertwined when it comes to business? What crucial element do you lose as a company when the boss or the culture becomes one of…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc503. Unraveling Latin America’s Turbulent Economic History with Sebastián Edwards
How did Chile's economic experiment reshape global economic thinking, and what can it teach us about the future of neoliberalism and populism in Latin America…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc502. Fraud, Cybernetics, and the Architecture of Unaccountability with Dan Davies
Why do our most complex systems—from financial markets to corporate behemoths—consistently produce outcomes that nobody intended, and what forgotten science…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc501. The Philosophical and Ethical Dimensions of Privacy and Surveillance feat. Carissa Véliz
Why have philosophers historically failed to think seriously about privacy? How do invasions of privacy really impact a person? What do we give up when we let…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc500. The Coders' Mindset and Transformation of Society feat. Clive Thompson
What effects will generative AI have on coding and software engineering? Will it make anyone a coder? Will it just turn software engineering into copy/paste…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc499. The Roots of Modern Economic Growth: How the World Became Rich feat. Mark Koyama
What more can be learned about a topic like the origins of economic growth that has been covered so extensively? When pulling back and looking at all the…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc498. Unlocking the Art of Conversation with Alison Wood Brooks
We learn the skill of talking as toddlers and by the time we’re adults, most of us don’t think twice about the inner workings of a conversation. But the…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc497. Spotting The Difference Between AI Innovation and AI Snake Oil feat. Arvind Narayanan
Where is the line between fact and fiction in the capabilities of AI? Which predictions or promises about the future of AI are reasonable and which are the…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc496. Raising Boys in the Age of Gender Politics with Ruth Whippman
Raising boys in post-MeToo times is beyond challenging. So how do moms balance societal pressures with the desire to raise happy, healthy, and emotionally…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc495. The Art of Money: Tokens and Technology feat. Rachel O’Dwyer
What brought about the rise of cryptocurrencies, and whats the difference between tokens and money? How are some of these modern concepts of currency much…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc494. The Limits of Liberal Rationalism feat. William Davies
With more and more data available about each of us all the time, what are the consequences of rapid data-driven decision making by organizations, and what are…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc493. What Human-Centered AI Looks Like with Alex ‘Sandy’ Pentland
How is artificial intelligence reshaping social dynamics, knowledge sharing, and the workplace in the digital age?Alex “Sandy” Pentland is a fellow at Stanford…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc492. The Unnaming of Kroeber Hall - Revisiting the Past and Renaming the Present feat. Andrew Garrett
How does the present reckon with the historical legacies of notable figures of the past? How do you contextualize the actions of people from other generations…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc491. How Global Economic Inequality Began with Oded Galor
When did the gaps in wealth distribution across the globe significantly widen? What is the role of human capital investment?Was the Industrial Revolution to…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc490. The Notebook’s Mighty Place in History with Roland Allen
Ever considered how something as simple as a notebook could shape history?Roland Allen from Thames & Hudson chronicles the substantial history of a humble tool…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc489. The Co-Evolution of Philosophy and Cognitive Science with Mark Johnson
If meaning is made with our minds, what role does the body play in shaping meaning? How do the studies of philosophy and cognitive science intersect? Mark…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc488. Why AI Is a Bad Hiring Manager with Hilke Schellmann
For many job seekers today, the first eyes on their application are most likely not human. Companies and recruiters are turning to AI more and more to…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc487. Challenging AI’s Capabilities with Gary Marcus
In the last five years, artificial intelligence has exploded but there are a lot of holes in how it works, what it is and is not capable of, and what a…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc486. Adapting to Rapid Technological Shifts feat. Azeem Azhar
Technology changes have always meant business changes, but with technology changing this fast, how long can businesses keep up? How can businesses work with…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc485. Understanding Economic Philosophy Through History feat. Margaret Schabas
How has economic thought evolved throughout the years along with the development of the other modern science disciplines? What is the role of human agency, and…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc484. Design in a Rapidly Changing World feat. Scott Doorley and Carissa Carter
What are the ethical responsibilities of designers today and what long-term impacts do they need to consider as they design? Who does the label of ‘designer’…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc483. Why Physics May Hold the Key to Global Warming with Richard A. Muller
As the world searches for impactful solutions to global warming and energy independence, how important is it for policymakers to understand some level of…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc482. The Origin of Humanity’s Musical Abilities with Michael Spitzer
While many species in the world make music, humans have a unique musical ability. In some ways, music might even define what it means to be human. But how did…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc481. The Science and Philosophy of Economics with Erik Angner
How do economics play into solving major global issues like pandemics, climate change, or inequality?Erik Angner is a professor of philosophy at Stockholm…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc480. Beyond IQ: The Real Measure of Wisdom feat. David Robson
What are the true natures of intelligence and wisdom, and how do they play off each other in sometimes surprising ways? What are the best ways to mitigate our…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc479. The Birth of Civilizations: Unpacking a 4,000-Year Global History feat. Josephine Quinn
At what point did the concept of civilization and civilizations emerge? In what ways do we know that societies were mingling and exchanging ideas and objects…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc478. The Neuroscience of Perception: Exploring Self, Social Conformity, and Animal Cognition feat. Gregory Berns
What does the sense of self give humans over other animals, and how do our storytelling instincts set us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom? What can be…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc477. Cultivating Creativity: The Vital Role of Art in Education and Personal Growth feat. Will Gompertz
How does art influence our perception of the world? Can fostering creativity in education lead to overall personal happiness and growth? What lessons can be…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc476. AI's Potential for Positive Social Change feat. Juan M. Lavista Ferres
AI is a fast-growing field full of potential insights, challenges, and ethical implications for its users and the world. How can the people behind the machines…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc475. Unraveling The History of Economic Crises with Harold James
How have economic crises throughout history shaped the relationships between nations? Which crises had a hand in wars and major global conflicts? Harold James…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc474. Common Sense in the Discourse on Sex and Gender feat. Doriane Lambelet Coleman
With sex and gender becoming such politicized and polarizing issues recently, what’s a common sense approach to sorting through all the information to better…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc473. The Evolution of Intelligence with Neil D. Lawrence
As we get better and better at training machines to emulate humans, are there certain aspects of human intelligence that artificial intelligence will never be…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc472. The Endless Quest to Define Humanity: Exploring Prehistory feat. Stefanos Geroulanos
Historically, how were narratives used around race, species, and the beliefs of Western civilization? What have been the contemporary implications for those…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc471. Why It’s Time For Evolutionary Science to Evolve with David P. Mindell
The long-held dominant narrative about evolution is that it works like a tree. But as science has advanced in the last century, the idea of a family tree might…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc470. Understanding Macroeconomics During Volatile Times with Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak
When COVID-19 hit, many predictions were made about how the global pandemic would impact the macroeconomy. Some of those predictions were accurate, some of…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc469. The Importance of Learning by Doing feat. Matt Beane
How is technology disrupting on-the-job learning? What do we lose from outsourcing the work of novices to technological tools, and what do we gain? How do some…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc468. Art Thinking and Innovative Business Models feat. Amy Whitaker
How important is creative thinking and the fusion of business and art in today's ever-evolving business landscape? What are the challenges of navigating…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc467. Understanding Human Behavior in Economics with Vernon L. Smith
Much of the field of economics derives its theories from a subset of Adam Smith’s philosophy found in the Wealth of Nations. But are economists overlooking…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc466. Keeping Science Apolitical with John Staddon
Just like all people, scientists have their own morals and political ideologies. But how do those values influence their work? What are the potential…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc465. Placebo Power: Mindfulness and Its Impact on Health feat. Ellen J. Langer
Ellen J. Langer is a Professor of Psychology at Harvard University. She is also the author of several books, including The Mindful Body: Thinking Our Way to…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc464. The Digital Age From Your Brain’s POV with Richard Cytowic
There’s a significant mismatch between our ancient brain's capabilities and the rapid advancements in technology. Simply put, our brains just can’t keep up in…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc463. Forecasting the Future of Energy and AI feat. Mark P. Mills
When does predicting the future become a science and not a fantasy? What can be learned from forecasts throughout the ages and across different industries?…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc462. The Science of Management with Nicholas Bloom
How do you measure the quality of management at a company? And how much do management practices impact a firm’s overall performance? Nicholas Bloom is a…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc461. The Other Gender Gap with Richard V. Reeves
Women have been systematically marginalized throughout history. However, new research shows a growing gender gap in the other direction. Today, men may face…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc460. Unraveling Start-Up Success with Mike Maples, Jr. and Peter Ziebelman
Is there a secret recipe for start-up success? Probably not. But if you take a close enough look at some of the massive success stories like Twitter and Lyft…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc459. From Moon Landings to Magic: Exploring Quirky Psychology feat. Richard Wiseman
How does drawing from experiments and scientists on the fringes of science help all of science and strengthen the core? How does luck actually work? How did…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc458. The Economics of Addiction with David Courtwright
Are we a more addicted society now than ever before in history? And if that’s the case, is it because there are more things to be addicted to or has the…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc457. The Origins and Spread of Democracy feat. David Stasavage
What factors influenced the development of early democracies, the role of technology in governance? Who came up with the concept of fairness in taxation, and…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc456. Economic Growth in the Age of Automation with Carl Benedikt Frey
The fear of AI taking our jobs has been buzzing for years, but it’s not a new conversation. Technology has been shaking up industries and displacing workers…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc455. How Meritocracy Has Become the New Aristocracy feat. Daniel Markovits
Discover how the American dream of meritocracy, rather than being a ladder to success, may actually be fueling inequality, eroding the middle class, and even…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc454. American Childhood From the Frontier to Helicopter Parenting feat. Paula S. Fass
Why have historians often overlooked childhood despite its significance in shaping culture and political views? How did trends in family demographics and…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc453. Financial Deals that Shaped the World feat. Paolo Zannoni
How was the financial world changed by the structured use of wooden sticks with dents in them? Why did silver coins disappear from England as soon as they were…
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc452. The Groundbreaking Case That Changed Sovereign Debt Law with Gregory Makoff
The thing about sovereign debt is that if a country defaults on its loan, there are no international bankruptcy laws in place to ensure the creditors get their…